Integrated viewfinder and digital media

ABSTRACT

A user interface can display active and passive content. For example, a camera viewfinder image can be displayed on a screen, as part of a strip, concatenated with one or more other images, for example, images that were previously taken with the camera. A user can cause the viewfinder image and the other images to move together across the screen. This can allow a user to easily examine the other images and the viewfinder image without, for example, switching between different screens in a user interface. Media captured with a device can be associated with a media category by positioning a user interface element near one or more other elements associated with the category.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Fong et al., U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/262,832, titled “INTEGRATED VIEWFINDER AND DIGITALMEDIA” and filed Nov. 19, 2009, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The disclosed technologies are related to user interfaces, for example,user interfaces for use with digital cameras.

BACKGROUND

Software and devices related to digital media often present activecontent in a first user interface element and passive content in asecond user interface element. For example, in a digital camera context,a user often cannot simultaneously see a viewfinder image and one ormore other images (e.g., images that were previously taken with thecamera and/or images that were provided from another source).

SUMMARY

A camera viewfinder image can be displayed on a screen and as part of astrip, concatenated with one or more other images, for example, imagesthat were previously taken with the camera. A user can cause theviewfinder image and the other images to move together across thescreen. This can allow a user to easily examine the other images and theviewfinder image without, for example, switching between differentscreens in a user interface.

Media captured with a device can be associated with a media category bypositioning a user interface element near one or more other elementsassociated with the category.

In some embodiments, a graphical user interface comprises: a viewfinderdisplay portion configured to display in a strip, on a hardware display,at least a portion of one or more real-time images from at least oneimaging device; and a stored image display portion configured to displayin the strip, on the hardware display, at least a portion of one or morestored images, wherein the viewfinder display portion and the storedimage display portion are configured to move in a common direction onthe hardware display in response to one or more user inputs. In somecases, only a portion of the one or more real-time images is visible onthe hardware display. The one or more real-time images are updated forat least a portion of time. The viewfinder display portion and thestored image display portion are configured to move in a commondirection on the hardware display in response to one or more user inputsand relative to one or more other graphical user interface elements. Insome cases, only a portion of the one or more stored images is visibleon the hardware display. The user interface is configured to receive oneor more commands for processing the one or more stored images. In someembodiments, at least some of the one or more stored images representstill images. In further embodiments, at least some of the one or morestored images represent video sequences. The viewfinder display portionand the stored image display portion can be configured to move in thecommon direction using a scrolling motion. The graphical user interfacecan be further configured to display, in the first viewing area portion,one or more captured images in place of the viewfinder image.

Further embodiments of a graphical user interface comprise: a newelement region for displaying a representation of a new media element; afirst media category region associated with a first media elementcategory; and a second media category region associated with a secondmedia element category, wherein the new element region is configured tobe positioned relative to the first media category region and relativeto the second media category region to indicate one or more categorieswith which the new media element is to be associated. The new elementregion is configured to be displayed as sliding relative to the firstmedia category region and the second media category region. The newelement region comprises a viewfinder region, and the new media elementcomprises at least one viewfinder image from a digital imaging element.In some cases, the first media element category region is configured todisplay one or more media elements associated with the first mediaelement category, and the second media element category region isconfigured to display one or more media elements associated with thesecond media element category.

An embodiment of a computer-implemented method comprises: displaying, ona hardware display, an active content display portion; and displaying,on the hardware display, a passive content display portion, the activecontent display portion and the passive content display portion beingconfigured to move a common direction on the hardware display inresponse to one or more user inputs and relative to one or more otherelements being displayed on the hardware display. The active contentdisplay portion can be configured to display one or more viewfinderimages, and the passive content display portion can be configured todisplay one or more previously recorded images.

One or more computer-readable storage media can comprise instructionswhich, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to display any ofthe disclosed graphical user interfaces. One or more computer-readablestorage media can comprise instructions which, when executed by acomputer, cause the computer to perform any of the disclosed methods.

An electronic device can be configured to perform any of the disclosedmethods and/or display any of the disclosed graphical user interfaces.

The foregoing and other features of the disclosed technologies willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description, whichproceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows exemplary embodiments of one or more devices which can beused with at least some of the disclosed technologies.

FIG. 2 shows exemplary components found in devices used with one or moreof the disclosed technologies.

FIG. 3 shows screenshots of one exemplary embodiment of a viewfinderuser interface for a camera.

FIGS. 4A-4C show block diagrams of exemplary embodiments of a viewfinderuser interface for a camera.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method fordisplaying a viewfinder image and a captured image.

FIGS. 6A-6D show block diagrams of an exemplary embodiment of a userinterface for viewing viewfinder images and captured images.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method fordisplaying a viewfinder image and a captured image.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method forassociating a captured image with one or more categories.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a userinterface for associating a captured image with one or more categories.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system forimplementing one or more technologies described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in at least some of the embodiments discussed below, a digitalcamera viewfinder can be displayed such that it is integrated withstored digital media. Accordingly, a user has an experience that theviewfinder is one of two or more photos (or videos) in a series. Theuser can provide a user interface command (e.g., a finger flick) andscroll through stored images that are concatenated to a regiondisplaying the viewfinder. This viewfinder region moves in the userinterface just like one of the stored images in the series.

Disclosed below are embodiments of user interface technologies and/orrelated systems and methods. The embodiments should not be construed aslimiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed towardall novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosedmethods and systems, and equivalents thereof, alone and in variouscombinations and subcombinations with one another. The methods disclosedherein are not performed purely in the human mind.

As used in this application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,”“an” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.”When used in a sentence, the phrase “and/or” can mean “one or more of”the elements described in the sentence. Embodiments described herein areexemplary embodiments of the disclosed technologies unless clearlystated otherwise.

Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods and systems aredescribed in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation,it should be understood that this manner of description encompassesrearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specificlanguage set forth below. For example, operations described sequentiallycan in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently.

For the sake of simplicity, the figures may not show the various ways inwhich the disclosed methods and systems can be used in conjunction withother methods and systems. Additionally, the description sometimes usesterms like “display,” “capture” and “send” to describe the disclosedtechnology. These and other terms are high-level abstractions of theactual operations that are performed. The actual operations thatcorrespond to these terms may vary depending on the particularimplementation and are readily discernible by one of ordinary skill inthe art.

Any of the methods described herein can be performed using softwarecomprising computer-executable instructions stored on one or morecomputer-readable storage media. Furthermore, any intermediate or finalresults of the disclosed methods can be stored on one or morecomputer-readable storage media. Computer-readable storage media caninclude non-volatile storage such as, for example, read-only memory(ROM), flash memory, hard disk drives, floppy disks and optical disks.Computer-readable storage media can also include volatile storage suchas, for example, random-access memory (RAM), device registers andprocessor registers. Any such software can be executed on a singlecomputer or on a networked computer (for example, via the Internet, awide-area network, a local-area network, a client-server network, orother such network).

The software embodiments disclosed herein can be described in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions, such as thoseincluded in program modules, which can be executed in a computingenvironment on a target real or virtual processor. Generally, programmodules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes,components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. The functionality of theprogram modules can be combined or split between program modules asdesired in various embodiments. Computer-executable instructions forprogram modules can be executed within a local or distributed computingenvironment. For clarity, only certain selected aspects of thesoftware-based implementations are described. Other details that arewell known in the art are omitted. For example, it should be understoodthat the disclosed technologies are not limited to any specific computerlanguage, program, or computer. For instance, the disclosed embodimentscan be implemented using a wide variety of commercially availablecomputer systems. Any of the disclosed methods can alternatively beimplemented (partially or completely) in hardware (e.g., an ASIC, PLD,or SoC). Portions of one or more disclosed methods can be executed bydifferent parts of a distributed computing environment.

Additionally, intermediate or final results (e.g., one or more images),created or modified using any of the disclosed methods can be stored onone or more tangible computer-readable storage media. In some cases,intermediate or final results (e.g., one or more images), produced byany of the disclosed methods, can be presented to a user using asuitable device (e.g., a computer monitor). Such presentation and/orstoring can be performed as part of a computer implementation of any ofthe disclosed methods.

Furthermore, any of the software embodiments (comprising, for example,computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform anyof the disclosed methods) can be transmitted, received, or accessedthrough a suitable communication means. Similarly, intermediate or finalmethod results, created or modified using any of the disclosed methods,can be transmitted, received, or accessed through a suitablecommunication means. Such suitable communication means include, forexample, the Internet, the World Wide Web, an intranet, cable (includingfiber optic cable), magnetic communication means, electromagneticcommunication means (including RF, microwave, and infraredcommunications), electronic communication means, or other suchcommunication means. Such communication means can be, for example, partof a shared or private network.

At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein are described withrespect to still images (e.g., still photographic images). However, atleast some technologies described herein can also be used for variousforms of content or media elements, including, for example, one or moreof video images (e.g., video sequences, with or without correspondingaudio information), still images, and sound recordings.

FIG. 1 shows exemplary embodiments of one or more electronic deviceswhich can be used with at least some of the disclosed technologies,including a television or other display device 110 (possibly acting inconjunction with a digital set-top box (not shown)), a handheldcomputing device 120 (e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellphone, a smartphone, an eBook reader, a video game player, a portablemusic or video player) and a personal computer 130 (e.g., a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a server, a thin client, a videogame console). In particular embodiments, two or more of the devices110, 120, 130 are used in combination with one or more of the disclosedtechnologies. For example, the handheld computing device 120 can be usedto control images displayed on the television or other display device110. Any of the devices 110, 120, 130 can be configured to receive datafrom and/or transmit data to a network 140.

FIG. 2 shows exemplary components found in devices used with at leastsome of the disclosed technologies (e.g., the devices of FIG. 1). Thecomponents include, for example: one or more types of memory, such asRAM 210, flash memory 212 and/or a hard drive (not shown); a processor214; a display 216 (e.g., a touch-sensitive or non-touch-sensitivedisplay); a camera 218 or other digital imaging element (including, forexample, a flash and/or focusing hardware; the camera may be integratedinto the device or be a stand-alone camera coupled to the device); aradio receiver 220 (e.g., AM/FM receiver, cellular phone receiver, Wi-Fireceiver); a satellite navigation receiver 222 (e.g., GPS, A-GPS, orother satellite navigation system); an accelerometer 224 (sensitive on,for example, one, two or three axes); a compass 226; a light sensor 228;a hardware control 230 (e.g., button, keyboard, keypad, directionalcontrol pad (D-pad)); an external connector 232 (e.g., video-out port,USB port, headphone jack, microphone jack, memory card slot); a graphicsprocessor 234; a codec 236; a speaker 238; a proximity sensor 240; aninfra-red (IR) receiver 242; and other environmental sensors 244 (e.g.,pressure sensor, moisture sensor). Various embodiments of devices canuse two or more of any of these components (e.g., two or more hardwarecontrols 230).

FIG. 3 shows screenshots of one exemplary embodiment of a viewfinderuser interface (UI) for a camera (e.g., a digital camera used inconjunction with one or more of the devices of FIG. 1). Screenshot 310shows a viewfinder region 312 for the camera, which displays an image314 (or an approximation of an image) that can be captured with thecamera. When a picture is taken with the camera, the captured image 322is displayed in the viewfinder region 316 for a set amount of time(e.g., 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, or another amount of time).Then, as shown in screenshot 320, the captured image 322 is removed fromthe viewfinder region 312. In the depicted embodiment, the capturedimage 322 slides off the left side of the viewfinder region 312 (asindicated by an arrow 324), but one or more other transitions can alsobe used. In place of the captured image 322, a monochrome or patternedimage 326 can be shown in the viewfinder region 312.

In the depicted embodiment, a user input can cause an image (e.g., amost recently captured image) to appear in the viewfinder region 312. Inthe screenshot 330, the user input comprises a stroke with a finger 332across at least a portion of the viewfinder region 312. In furtherembodiments, the user input comprises a tap on a portion of the region312. The user input can also be performed on a portion of the capturedimage 322 (e.g., before it slides fully off of the viewfinder region312).

When an image is shown in the viewfinder region 312, one or more userinputs can cause a menu to appear. For example, screenshot 340 shows auser tapping the image in the region 312. Then, as shown in screenshot350, a menu 352 appears. The menu 352 makes available to the uservarious commands or groups of commands. For example, screenshot 360shows exemplary commands that are displayed as a result of selecting the“Share” icon in the menu 352. The commands shown in screenshot 360include commands for sending an image by e-mail, sending an image via apicture message, posting an image to a website (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, or another site), as well as one or more other commands. Otherpossible commands include, for example, deleting, renaming andretouching the image.

Generally speaking, an image displayed in any embodiment of a userinterface described herein can be associated with one or more internetaddresses, file names, user accounts, hardware devices or computing“clouds” (e.g., virtualized resources obtained as a service over anetwork, such as the Internet). For example, an image can be uploaded toa website, associated with or sent to a user account for an internetservice (e.g., Facebook, My Space, or another site), sent by e-mail orother message service (including, for example, as an attachment), sentto another computer or handheld computing device (e.g., a telephone or aPDA), or stored on a remote storage or processing service. Anassociation for an image can be indicated before or after an image iscaptured by the camera. In particular embodiments, a device can beconfigured to exchange information with a computing cloud about theavailability or status of one or more cloud-based services. The devicecan transmit an image or other file to a cloud with a list of one ormore destinations to which the file should be sent (e.g., one or moreweb sites or storage services). This can allow the device to have thefile sent to multiple destinations while transmitting only one copy ofthe file.

A device can be configured to receive a command to upload, associate orsend an image when the device is not connected to a network. When thedevice is later connected to the network, the device can execute thecommand to upload, associate or send the image. Further, a device canstore information about the file structures of online storage options(e.g., in which folder a file can be stored for a given website). Infurther embodiments, a group of two or more images can be arranged(e.g., reordered), and this arrangement data can be provided to astorage location, cloud, website, another device, or to one or moreother services.

FIG. 4A shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a viewfinderuser interface 400 for a camera. For example, the UI 400 can be usedwith one or more of the devices discussed above for FIG. 1, inconjunction with an external and/or internal camera. The UI 400comprises a display region 410. In embodiments depicted herein, a“display region” denotes a region that is shown on a device's display.That is, generally speaking, any user interface elements currentlyoutside of the display region are not shown on the display. In somecases, the display region 410 occupies most or all of the display onwhich it appears, while in other cases the region 410 occupies only aportion of the display.

In FIG. 4A, a viewfinder region 420 (sometimes also called a “viewfinderpane” or “viewfinder display portion”) appears in the display region410. The viewfinder region 420 displays a viewfinder image 422 providedby a camera. The viewfinder image 422 represents a real-time view(either approximately or exactly) currently being seen through a lens ofa camera and that can be captured by the camera at a given time. Theviewfinder image 422 is updated at least a portion of the time based atleast in part on data provided by the camera.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, at least a portion 432 of a first imageregion 430 (sometimes also called an “image pane” or “image displayportion”) appears in the display region 410. In some configurations,most or all of the first image region 430 appears in the display region410 along with the viewfinder image 422 (i.e., the display region 410 islarge enough to show multiple images). A first image 434 appears in thefirst image region 430. The first image 434 is a stored digital media(photo, video, etc.) previously taken using the camera or from anothersource (e.g., downloaded from a network, copied from a memory card) andstored somewhere in memory on the device. In some embodiments, the firstimage 434 and the viewfinder image 422 are displayed at the same or atapproximately the same scale. In other embodiments, they are displayedat different scales.

The viewfinder region 420 and the first image region 430 together form acollection of user interface elements that allows for viewing of theviewfinder image 422 and one or more other images, such as the firstimage 434. This collection of UI elements can be referred to as a“strip,” a “filmstrip” or a “backroll.” As shown in FIG. 4B, when animage 444 is taken with the camera, this image is displayed in a secondimage region 440, which is positioned relative to (e.g., adjacent) atleast one of the viewfinder region 420 and the first image region 430.In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the second image region 440 is positionedbetween the regions 420, 430. As a result, the first image region 430 isno longer visible in the display region 410. Instead, a portion 442 ofthe second image region 440 appears in the display region 410. Althoughthe embodiments of FIGS. 4A and 4B (and of at least some otherembodiments disclosed herein) show the viewfinder region 420 and one ormore image regions as being positioned horizontally relative to thedisplay region 410, in further embodiments these UI elements areorganized in one or more other directions (e.g., vertically,diagonally).

In further embodiments, when the camera photographs an image, the imagein the viewfinder region 420 is replaced with a preview version of thenew image (sometimes referred to as a “capture preview” image). Thepreview version of the image is replaced with the captured image, whichis moved to another position in the UI (e.g., second image region 440).Then an updated viewfinder image 442 is displayed again in theviewfinder region 420. In some versions, the viewfinder image 442 isshown as sliding into the viewfinder region 420.

FIG. 4C shows an embodiment of a UI 450 that is similar to the UI 400described above. However, in the UI 450, the first image region 430 doesnot overlap into the display region 410.

As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C, in some cases a viewfinderregion 620 and first and second image regions 630, 640 can move relativeto a display region 610. In FIG. 6A, only a portion 642 of the secondimage region 640 is visible. As the regions 620, 630, 640 move relativeto the display region 610, the respective amounts of at least some ofthese regions that are visible in the display region 610 change. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6B, as the regions 620, 630, 640 move left(relative to the display region 610), less of the viewfinder region 620appears in the display region 610, and more of the second image region640 becomes visible in the region 610. In FIG. 6C, the regions 620, 630,640 have moved such that the second image region 640 is fully displayedin the display region 610 and only respective portions 624, 634 of theviewfinder region 620 and the first image region 630 appear in thedisplay region 610. In various embodiments, such movement of theseelements can occur in multiple directions (e.g., left, right, up, down,diagonally). In further embodiments, movement of these elements canoccur in multiple dimensions (e.g., both vertically and horizontally).In particular embodiments, the regions 620, 630, 640 move relative tothe display region 610 and relative to one or more other UI elementsshown in the display region (e.g., background region 612, shown in FIG.6A).

In some cases, this movement is performed in response to one or moreuser inputs. For example, if a user slides a finger across a portion ofa touch-sensitive display on which the viewfinder region 620 appears,the region 620 can move across the display region 610 in a correspondingdirection. The user input can also comprise, for example, one or more ofkeyboard input, pen input, mouse input, voice command input and rockerswitch input.

FIG. 6D depicts an alternative embodiment where the regions 620, 630,640 can be positioned relative to the display region 610 such that, forexample, the regions 620, 630 do not necessarily appear at all in thedisplay region 610 when the region 640 appears in the display region610.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 700 fordisplaying images in a user interface on a display (e.g., a userinterface such as that described for FIGS. 6A-6C). In a method act 710,a real-time viewfinder image for a camera is displayed in a firstviewing area in a display region. In a method act 720, an other image(e.g., a previously photographed image, or an image from another sourcebesides the camera) is displayed in a second viewing area in the displayregion. In some embodiments, the second viewing area displays only anedge portion of the other image. In a method act 730, the first andsecond viewing areas are moved in a generally unified or commondirection. The movement can be in response to one or more user inputs.In some embodiments, the first and second viewing areas move with a“sliding” or “scrolling” motion across a portion of the display.

Thus, returning to the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C, for example, it ispossible to “slide” or “scroll” among the viewfinder region 620 and oneor more image display regions (e.g., regions 630, 640). This can allow auser to easily view both the viewfinder image and other images stored ona device (e.g., one or more images previously captured with the camera).These can be viewed, for example, without changing from one screen toanother in a user interface. Instead, the viewfinder image and the otherimages “slide” or “scroll” across the display region 610. In thedepicted embodiment, the viewfinder region 620 forms one end of the“strip” or “filmstrip” created by the regions 620, 630, 640, while theregion 630 forms another end. In other words, a single UI “space” isprovided for both taking and reviewing pictures. In some embodiments,the images stop moving (e.g., the strip stops moving) when one end oranother of the strip is reached. For example, in some embodimentssimilar to that of FIGS. 6A-6C, the regions 620, 630, 640 stop movingrightward once some or all of the region 630 appears in the displayregion 610. Similarly, the regions 620, 630, 640 stop moving leftwardonce some or all of the region 620 appears in the display region 610. Infurther embodiments, once an end of the strip for a given scrollingdirection is displayed, further scrolling in that direction causes theopposite end of the strip to be displayed in the display region 610(e.g., one end of the strip “loops around” to the other end). In somecases scrolling past the end of a strip causes one or more archives ofother images (e.g., older images, images in another category, imagesassociated with one or more various websites) to be displayed. Someembodiments can also be configured to store one or more images to one ormore locations as a result of a certain number of images being capturedby the camera. For example, a device can upload a group of one or morephotos to a website or to a computer as a result of X number of picturesbeing captured or as a result of a storage or picture count limit beingreached.

In additional embodiments, the display region 610 shows the viewfinderregion 620 in response to one or more user inputs (e.g., by pressing acamera hardware button). This can, for example, allow a user to returnto the viewfinder image after looking at one or more other images in thestrip, without having to scroll through all of the images between acurrently displayed image and the viewfinder image.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 500for displaying a camera viewfinder image and an other image. In a methodact 510, the viewfinder image is displayed on a display using a softwareapplication. In a method act 520, the other image (e.g., an imagecaptured with a camera) is displayed on the display using the samesoftware application such that digital media and the viewfinder imageare concatenated to display a seamless transition between the viewfinderand stored images. It is not necessary to use separate applications todisplay both the viewfinder and other images.

In some embodiments, a new image can be added to a strip even if aviewfinder image is not shown on a display. Such a situation can ariseif, for example, a device provides a user with an optical eyepieceinstead of an electronic viewfinder image. Or, an electronic viewfinderimage can be available but not displayed because, for example, a userhas scrolled to other images in a strip such that the viewfinder imageis not currently displayed. When a viewfinder image is not displayed,some embodiments of the disclosed technologies allow a user to take apicture and have it added to the strip. In some cases, regardless ofwhether a viewfinder image is displayed, an image can be added to an endlocation of a strip or to a user-selected location in the strip (e.g.,according to a placeholder).

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 800for associating an image with one or more categories. In a method act810, a viewfinder region is displayed on a display. The viewfinderregion displays, for example, one or more real-time images from acamera. In a method act 820, a first image category indicator or regionis displayed in the display. An image category indicator comprises, forexample, at least a portion of an image that is associated with theimage category. Other types of image category indicators can also beused.

In particular embodiments, the first image category indicator isdisplayed in proximity to (e.g., next to or near) at least a portion ofthe viewfinder region. Based at least in part on the display of thatindicator and the relative position of the first image category to theviewfinder region on the display, in a method act 830 an image capturedwith the camera is associated with a corresponding first image category.In further embodiments, two or more image category indicators aredisplayed in proximity to at least a portion of the viewfinder region,and an image captured with the camera is associated with thecorresponding two or more image categories.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a user interface 900for associating an image captured by a camera with one or morecategories. The UI 900 can be used with, for example, one or moreembodiments of the method 800.

The user interface 900 comprises a display region 910. The UI 900 hasone or more associated image categories. In the depicted embodiment,these categories are a family pictures category, a work picturescategory and a landscape pictures category. Each category has a group orseries of one or more images associated with it. In this case, familypictures 930 (including an image 940) are associated with the familypictures category, work pictures 932 are associated with the workpictures category, and landscape pictures 934 are associated with thelandscape pictures category.

In the depicted configuration, the viewfinder region 920 is closest toan image 942 associated with the work pictures category (e.g., theviewfinder region 420 is in the same “row” as the image 942 and theother images of the work pictures 932). A portion 922 of the image 942appears in the display region 910 and serves as an image categoryindicator for the work pictures category. Accordingly, when a picture istaken with the camera, it is added to the series of work pictures 932.

The viewfinder region 920 can be scrolled relative to the rowsrepresenting the groups 930, 932, 934 to change the category with whicha newly captured image should be associated. For example, scrolling theviewfinder region 920 (e.g., in response to a user input) such that itis closest to a picture in the family pictures 930 results in theviewfinder being associated with a different series of images (i.e., thefamily picture category). Newly captured images are then associated withthe family pictures 930.

In further embodiments, having an image associated with a given categorycauses (at least in part) that image to be associated, for example, withone or more interne addresses, file names, user accounts, hardwaredevices or computing clouds. For example, the images can be uploaded toa social networking or photo display website.

In some embodiments, the UI 900 is combined with one or more embodimentsof the UI elements shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. For example, the viewfinderregion 920 and the pictures of the category with which the viewfinderregion is currently associated can be slid or scrolled across at least aportion of the display region 910.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system1000 for implementing one or more technologies described herein. Thesystem 1000 comprises a camera 1010, a display 1050 and one or moretypes of computer-readable storage 1030. The storage 1030 contains oneor more digital media files (e.g., still images and/or video clips). Aphoto viewer software component 1040 contains logic for displaying datafrom the storage 1030 (e.g., previously captured pictures 1062, 1064)and data from the camera 1010 (e.g., a viewfinder image 1060) on thedisplay 1050 in a seamless integrated fashion (e.g., concatenated in astrip or other configuration). Data from the camera 1010 passes to thephoto viewer software component 1040 through a capture pipeline softwarecomponent 1020, which acts as an interface between the camera 1010 andthe component 1040.

The photo viewer software component 1040 also contains logic formodifying user interface elements for showing on the display 1050. Forexample, the component 1040 comprises logic for scrolling viewfinderimages and previously captured images on the display. In the depictedembodiment, the viewfinder image 1060 and the previously capturedpicture 1064 appear on the display 1050.

Although at least some of the embodiments disclosed herein describecapturing and/or displaying video and still images, further embodimentsof the disclosed technologies can be used with other media, data or filetypes. For example, at least some of the disclosed technologies can beapplied more generally to active content and passive content. “Activecontent” can comprise content that is being provided by or received by adevice in real-time. “Passive content” can comprise content that waspreviously recorded or received by the device.

For example, in some scenarios “active content” could comprise an audiofile that is currently being recorded, while “passive content” couldcomprise previously recorded audio files. In other scenarios, “activecontent” could comprise a web or desktop search that is currently beingperformed, while “passive content” could comprise results of one or moreprevious searches. In a given embodiment, “active content” and “passivecontent” do not necessarily need to be of the same type. For example,one could comprise still images while the other comprises audio data.One or more of the disclosed technologies can be used to allow a user toexperience both the active content and the passive contentsimultaneously (e.g.: view information about a previously recorded audiofile while recording a new audio file; or, view the results of a currentsearch and a previous search). The active and passive content can behandled by a single application and/or using a single UI screen.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thedisclosed technologies can be applied, it should be recognized that theillustrated embodiments are only examples of these technologies andshould not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, thescope of the invention is defined by the following claims. We thereforeclaim as our invention all that comes within the scope and spirit ofthese claims.

1. A graphical user interface comprising: a viewfinder display portion configured to display in a strip, on a hardware display, at least a portion of one or more real-time images received through a lens of at least one imaging device; and a stored image display portion configured to display in the strip, on the hardware display, at least a portion of one or more stored images, wherein the viewfinder display portion and the stored image display portion are configured to move in a common direction on the hardware display in response to one or more user inputs so that the viewfinder display portion configured to display at least a portion of the one or more real-time images received through the lens and the stored image display portion appear in the same strip and are simultaneously moveable onto and off of the hardware display.
 2. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein only a portion of the one or more real-time images is visible on the hardware display.
 3. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the one or more real-time images are updated for at least a period of time.
 4. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the viewfinder display portion and the stored image display portion are configured to move in a common direction on the hardware display in response to one or more user inputs and relative to one or more other graphical user interface elements.
 5. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein only a portion of the one or more stored images is visible on the hardware display.
 6. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to receive one or more commands for processing the one or more stored images.
 7. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein at least some of the one or more stored images represent still images that were captured by the at least one imaging device.
 8. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein at least some of the one or more stored images represent video sequences.
 9. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the viewfinder display portion and the stored image display portion are configured to move in the common direction using a scrolling motion.
 10. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further configured to display, in a first viewing area portion, one or more captured images in place of the viewfinder image.
 11. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to display the graphical user interface of claim
 1. 12. An electronic device configured to display the graphical user interface of claim
 1. 13. A graphical user interface comprising: a new element region for displaying a representation of a new media element to be captured, the new element region displaying real-time images received through a lens of a camera so that the new media element can be captured; a first media category region associated with a first media element category; and a second media category region associated with a second media element category, wherein the new element region is configured to be movably positioned relative to the first media category region and/or relative to the second media category region to indicate one or more categories with which the new media element to be captured is to be associated, so that a newly captured media element is combinable with at least one of the first media category region and the second media category region.
 14. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein the new element region is configured to be displayed as sliding relative to the first media category region and the second media category region.
 15. The graphical user interface of claim 13, the first media element category region being configured to display one or more media elements associated with the first media element category, and the second media element category region being configured to display one or more media elements associated with the second media element category.
 16. One or more computer-readable storage media having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to display the graphical user interface of claim
 13. 17. An electronic device configured to display the graphical user interface of claim
 13. 18. A computer-implemented method comprising: displaying, on a hardware display, an active content display portion, which includes a viewfinder that displays images being received through a lens on a camera for the purpose of image capturing; and displaying, on the hardware display, a passive content display portion that displays stored images that have already been captured, the active content display portion and the passive content display portion being configured to move simultaneously in a common direction on the hardware display in response to one or more user inputs and relative to one or more other elements being displayed on the hardware display.
 19. The method of claim 18, the active content display portion being configured to display one or more viewfinder images, and the passive content display portion being configured to display one or more previously recorded images. 